(GRADED) Deep Dive #1 - Detroit's Big Three Picks
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notorioustig
IIHF Federation Head Toast's Idiot of the Year 2021
The Detroit Falcons had a season to forget in S56. A miserable 29 point showing sunk them to a scathing low, a far cry from their record setting 84 point and championship-winning performance just a few seasons earlier. The losing even continued at the draft lottery, where they fell to the second pick in the draft while watching the rival St. Louis Scarecrows take the jump to 1st overall. Leading up to the draft, their fate seemed all but certain - they would likely be taking Kermit Murphy, son of Falcons alumni and retiring SHL stalwart Tig Murphy, at 2nd overall. However, Detroit's management team decided to make some major shakeups that saw them acquire both the 3rd and 4th overall picks in exchange for veterans Sammy Blaze and Kolja Kekkonen, along with future draft picks. These two trades set the stage for what was unquestionably the most exciting draft day Detroit had seen in years.
A major talking point ahead of the draft was defender Luc Blouin, the skilled French-born puck-mover who pundits believe is the consensus choice to go 1st overall in next offseason's SHL draft. Blouin was similarly projected as a top pick in the SMJHL draft, but his placement in mock drafts was far from clear. Rumours, which turned out to be the truth, had St. Louis being very interested in another defender out of France in Jean-Locke Zidane, and when Detroit's trades were announced it became evident that they sensed an opportunity to swoop in and grab Blouin, who provided them with a top prospect and an impending replacement for the hole left by the departure of Kekkonen. Blouin would be the 2nd pick of the draft, and those around him say he is more than capable of shouldering the weight of the lofty expectations he carries. One of Detroit's greatest areas of weakness was at wing, which paved the way for their selection of smooth American winger Pavel Jeziak at 3rd overall. Jeziak was a wildcard heading into the draft, with some scouts drooling over his offensive potential while others cited concerns about his mobility and defensive play. Nonetheless, his potential spoke to the Detroit management team, who expect Jeziak to become a fixture in the team's top-six and powerplay unit. His ability to be the "snake in the grass" and find open ice should mesh particularly well with the team's depth at centre, and his game may even synergize with Detroit's third and final pick of the 1st round. Kermit Murphy would indeed follow his father's footsteps as a pick of the Detroit Falcons, albeit two picks later than initially expected by many. Murphy possesses the size and strength down the middle that teams dream about, and packages it with strong skill and ability to read plays. Much like his father, he excels at winning puck battles from a defensive position and immediately transitioning the puck up the ice, although his game is far more aggressive and he looks to separate his man from the puck by force just as often as he does it with cunning. Murphy looks to possess the two way game that will win him favour with the coaching staff, and Falcons fans will certainly hope he can recreate the powerforward success of former Falcons star and recent SHL rookie of the year Edward Williams. Through their first five pre-season games as teammates, the three Falcons first round picks have combined for just two goals and 5 points, but their potential should lead to them growing into part of a high-powered core for the Falcons as they seek to return to their winning ways. 619 words Approved, +5 TPE @notorioustig |
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